calico printers, though the wages of the latter now range from 25s. to 48s. per week. (6.) In the Miscellaneous Trades, including upwards of eighty classes of workmen, the rate of wages has generally been maintained, and in some cases has been considerably advanced. Where reductions have occurred, they will be found to arise mainly from the following causes :— (a.) Where the demand for the article has declined, and the supply of labour has become superabundant, as in beaver hat making, block cutters and printers, in calico printing; paper-hanging, manufacturing, &c. (b.) Where the improvements in machinery, although creating permanent employment to a much larger number of persons at equal or even increased wages, may have reduced the value of the product of the labour of a class of workmen whose wages may consequently have declined. This was illustrated iu a remarkable degree in the case of hand loom weavers of calico (a trade which is now almost extinct) and the substitution of power loom weaving. The same effect is now being accomplished in the case of the substitution of machine printing of calico, and of paper hangings for hand printing, &c. The wages of workmen in every trade have invariably decreased, where the supply of labour has exceeded the demand. In like manner the wages of the workmen have been invariably maintained or increased where the demand has equalled or exceeded the supply. This result, in the great majority of the cases of advances of wages, has been directly occasioned by improvements of machinery; whereby the increased production has lessened the cost, and thereby caused a largely increased demand. This is shown in a remarkable manner in the cotton trade, the extraordinary extension of which is entirely owing to the cheapening of the means of production. But the remarkable case of the large advance of wages in the building trades, presents a peculiar exception to that of other trades. The operatives in these trades by restricting the number of apprentices and other arbitrary regulations, have prevented the supply of labour from being equal to the demand, and thereby enhanced its value. I have appended a carefully-prepared return, shewing the amount expended in food, clothing, &c., by a working man, with a wife and three children, whose average earnings are 30s. per week; as compared with the cost of the same articles in 1849 and in 1839. This return (R.) shews that out of an average income of 30s. per week, 20s. 64d., or rather more than two-thirds, are expended in provisions, leaving 9s. 54d., or rather less than one-third, for clothing, rent, and sundries. It also shews that the same articles of provisions which in 1859 cost 20s. 64d., would in 1849 have cost £1. 1s. 54d., and in 1839 £1. 4s. 7d.; being a reduction in the cost of provisions of the same quality and quantity during the twenty years of 4s. 0 d., or 20 per cent., or nearly 14 per cent. on the amount of his average income. This reduction arises principally from the repeal of the corn laws, and the reduction of the duties upon tea, coffee, sugar, and soap. The official return shews that the number of depositors in the Manchester and Salford Savings' Bank was 11,700 in 1839, 24,700 in 1849, and 45,447 in 1859; that the amount of deposits remaining in the bank was in 1839 £331,000, in 1849 £614,000, and in 1859 £1,160,085. The increase in the number of depositors and the amount deposited may to a great extent be ascribed to the improved resources and the extension of provident habits amongst the working classes in the district generally. I believe it is admitted by the great mass of the intelligent working men, that their physical and social position has much improved during the last twenty years and all careful observers must admit that the progress of sanitary improvements in rendering their "homes" more healthy, has greatly contributed to this result. As a body they are now much better educated, and are much less addicted to the sin of drunkenness; they have much greater self-respect and intelligence; and if they have not more political privileges, they have more real independence, and are in every other respect elevated and improved as compared with their position twenty years ago. The return (S.) gives the population and the rate of increase in England and Wales, as compared with the county of Lancaster and the Manchester and Salford District. The rate of increase of the population in each of the five decennial periods from 1801 to 1851, shews an average of 15 per cent for England and Wales, 28 per cent, for the county of Lancaster, and 33 per cent, for the Manchester and Salford districts. The population of the county of Lancaster was in 1801 only 756 per cent, of the total population of England and Wales; in 1831 it was 9-61 per cent., and in 1851 it was 11:32 per cent., or more than one-ninth of the whole population of England and Wales. In conclusion, I beg to express my obligations to Mr. Bazley, M.P., Mr. Henry Ashworth, of Bolton, Mr. David Morris, and Mr. Foxcroft, for their kindness in supplying me with information in regard to Cotton Manufactures, and to many other friends for assistance in obtaining the returns of various other trades. Since the completion of the paper, I have had the opportunity of submitting to a large meeting of Oper atives in Manchester, the Returns of the Rates of Wages in the various Trades; and although I much regretted to find that some of the leading members of Trades' Unions attempted to deny the existence and operation of the law of Political Economy in regard to Supply and Demand governing the price of LABOUR, as well as of all materials and products; it was particularly gratifying to find that with one slight exception, they acknowledged the fairness and correctness of the *urns in all respects. |